Abstract: Provided are a user interface method of enabling a user to conveniently use a terminal allowing multi-tasking, and a computer readable recording medium storing the method. The user interface method includes classifying applications capable of being executed by the apparatus into groups, in such a manner as to classify one or more applications that perform similar functions into the same group; and displaying a window for executing a corresponding application, for each of the groups.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for obtaining a service is provided. Information about an external device is received at a terminal from the external device. It is determined whether the external device has been registered based on the information about the external device. Service information associated with the external device is provided when at least the external device has been registered.

Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for providing a user-adapted service environment. The method includes authenticating a user, transmitting first user identification information for identifying the authenticated user to a controlled device, receiving a user profile corresponding to the first user identification information from the controlled device, and configuring a service environment using the received user profile.

Abstract: A method for providing a widget service in a broadcast receiving apparatus is provided. A method for providing the widget service includes operations of receiving widget information, and displaying on a picture-in-picture (PIP) screen at least part of all the received widget information which is to be fitted to the PIP screen, upon occurrence of a preset or trigger event. Therefore, it is possible for a user to construct a sub-screen for providing a widget service by selecting only part of widget information forming the entire display screen rather than reducing the size of the entire display screen.

Abstract: A method for providing a widget service using a media service providing apparatus is provided. A method for providing the widget service includes operations of scanning channels providing media services therethrough; determining whether or not there is an available channel among the scanned channels for allocating a widget service; if it is determined that there is the available channel, allocating the widget service to the available channel; and providing the widget service allocated to the available channel. Accordingly, a widget service is provided without disturbing a user viewing a television (TV), increasing user convenience.

Abstract: A method to provide a graphical user interface (GUI) to offer a 3D cylindrical menu, and a multimedia apparatus using the same. The method to provide a GUI includes generating a 3D cylindrical menu displaying a menu on its surface, and rotating the 3D cylindrical menu according to a manipulation of an input device by a user to enable the user to select an item of the menu.

Abstract: An input device for effective navigation, a user interface device and a user interface method, and a computer-readable recording medium having embodied thereon a computer program to perform the method, the user interface device including a display unit, a rotatable input unit used to instruct a movement and a selection of a highlighted item in the display unit, and a control unit to control the device to perform a function corresponding to the received signal when a movement signal or a rotation signal is received from the input unit.

Abstract: A user interface apparatus and method requiring a limited number of input keys, and a computer-readable recording medium storing the same, the user interface apparatus including a display unit to display a menu; an input unit to include one or more input keys; and a control unit to control a creation of a menu screen having a layout that is visually similar to the layout of the input unit, a display of the menu on the display unit, and a selection of a menu item determined according to the layout in response to a key input via the input unit.

Abstract: Provided are a user interface method of enabling a user to conveniently use a terminal allowing multi-tasking, and a computer readable recording medium storing the method. The user interface method includes classifying applications capable of being executed by the apparatus into groups, in such a manner as to classify one or more applications that perform similar functions into the same group; and displaying a window for executing a corresponding application, for each of the groups.

Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for providing a user-adapted service environment. The method includes authenticating a user, transmitting first user identification information for identifying the authenticated user to a controlled device, receiving a user profile corresponding to the first user identification information from the controlled device, and configuring a service environment using the received user profile.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for automatically interfacing between devices that reproduce content in a network with reference to reproduction property information of a content file, and a computer-readable recording medium storing a computer program for executing the method. One of a plurality of content reproduces is selected with reference to at least one reproduction property information of a content file selected and specification information of the content reproducers. Thereafter, the selected content file is transmitted from a content provider to the selected content reproducer, and then the selected content reproducer reproduces the selected content file. Therefore, knowledge of reproduction property information by the user is not required, and the number of processes that are needed to carry out in reproducing the selected content file is minimized.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for providing a user interface for a content search that facilitates the selection of a search object during the content search.